Onitsha Main Market resumed full trading on Monday, ending a four-year disruption caused by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)-directed sit-at-home order.
Traders and shop owners opened their stalls early, with activities beginning smoothly across major sections, including Emeka Offor Plaza, Lagos Line, Ado Line, Mandela Line, and White House Line.
Other areas such as Fashion Line, Children’s Wear Line, Accessories Line, Egerton to Ose Foodstuff Market, and The Young Park also recorded high trader turnout, while adjoining markets, including Ochanja and Relief markets, saw similar activity.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who visited the market last week after traders initially resisted the state directive to ignore the sit-at-home order, expressed satisfaction with the large number of traders present.
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Traders expressed optimism about renewed business. Michael Igwe, a trader at Emeka Offor Plaza, said Monday trading was crucial for business and hoped the reopening would restore the market’s economic vitality.
Despite IPOB’s announcement canceling sit-at-home orders in the South-East, banks, petrol stations, and some schools in Onitsha remained closed, and major roads were relatively quiet. Security personnel were visible but less heavily deployed than in previous weeks.